High School Students Gear Up for Battle of the Brains

Golden, Colo., Feb. 17, 1999  What is the maximum distance an electron can travel in a nanosecond? Which planet has a moon almost as big as the planet itself? High school students from across Colorado will face such questions as they test their mental agility in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
1999 Denver Regional Science Bowl Feb. 27 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

More than 20 student teams from rural communities to metropolitan areas across the state will compete in this rapid-fire question and answer tournament, which focuses on physics, math, biology, astronomy, chemistry, computers and the earth sciences. Each team is composed of four students,
one alternate and a teacher who serves as adviser and coach.

The winning team will earn the opportunity to compete in the
National Science Bowl in the Washington, D.C., area April 30 - May 3. Teams from Pueblo South and Pueblo Centennial High Schools placed first and second in last year's regional competition.

DOE began the National Science Bowl nine years ago to help stimulate interest in science and math. The competition has evolved into one of the Energy Department's premier educational programs.

The Denver Regional Science Bowl, organized by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden Field Office and Denver Regional Support Office, will run 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. in Alderson Hall (1613 Illinois St.) at the Colorado School of Mines.

A Fairview High School team from Boulder placed first in a similar competition for northern Colorado hosted last month in Fort Collins by DOE's Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site and the Western Area Power Administration. The Fairview team and the Denver Regional Science Bowl winners will compete with
regional winning teams from across the country at the National Science Bowl.

NR-00699

Denver Regional Science Bowl teams

Metro Denver areas
Christian Fellowship School - Lakewood
Douglas County High School - Castle Rock
Eaglecrest High School - Aurora
Faith Christian High School - Arvada
George Washington High School - Denver
Golden High School - Golden
Highlands Ranch High School - Highlands Ranch
Littleton High School - Littleton
Overland High School - Aurora
Pomona High School - Arvada
Smoky Hill High School - Aurora

Colorado Springs
Air Academy High School
Coronado High School
Palmer High School
William Mitchell High School

Pueblo
Pueblo Centennial High School
Pueblo Central High School
Pueblo South High School

Other areas
Hoehne High School - Hoehne
Mountain Valley School - Saguache
Swink High School - Swink
Vilas High School - Vilas
Woodland Park High School - Woodland Park